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10 Things to Do While Waiting in Line at San Diego Comic-Con International

By Chris Gore

 

Typically, nerds are known for being good at a lot of things—like science, math, and winning arguments when it involves trivia about things like Star Trek, Star Wars, or Marvel movies. Nerds also happen to excel at waiting in line. But we don’t just wait. We do it politely, keeping track of our place in the queue as we look for useful ways to pass the time until we get to that special place…the front of the line! 

 

Here are just a few ways to make the time go by more quickly as you spend hours and hours in line at San Diego Comic-Con International (SDCC).

1. Make Friends

This is the easiest achievement to unlock in a line since you are already standing next to each other because of your love of Doctor Who or Game of Thrones or DC Comics or any number of nerdtastic fandoms found at SDCC. So don’t be shy, chat up your neighbors and find out where they’re from, what other fandoms they like, and ask them about the best thing they’ve seen at the con so far.

2. Eat Lunch

Or dinner or just have a snack. If you’re smart, you packed well and can spend 8 hours in line without having to leave to purchase the bland offerings at the convention center. It also helps to bring enough food to share (see above).

3. Search Twitter and Facebook

It’s impossible to see everything happening at Comic-Con. So, if you’ve always wondered what it’s like to be Professor X when he puts Cerebro on his head, now you can! If you search for the hashtag #SDCC or #SDCC2015, you’ll discover everything happening around you at the con, so you won’t miss out. And remember to post photos of yourself in line.

4. Plan Your Next Wait in Line

Check the official SDCC app and have a plan B should your wait in line (presumably for Hall H) extend into the long hours of the night.

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5. Play a game

Countless games are available for your mobile device based on your gaming preferences. I strongly suggest a game called “Ingress,” which actually uses the world around you as the playing field. It’s also a game you can play with friends; in fact, you will more than likely find people playing it all around you. Download Ingress and play it in line, you can thank me later. 

6. Search for Your Soulmate

Yes, we all know what a chore online dating can be, especially if you’re seeking the nerd of your dreams. Most dating apps suck, but apps such as Tinder and OKCupid have a feature that proves useful at comic-cons. If you use “location services” and search “nearby” for potential matches, you might find your geek soulmate among the 100,000+ attendees at the con. And there’s a good chance that person will share many of your interests. I mean, they are already at SDCC!

7. Binge-watch TV

We all have that season of that show that everyone has seen, but we’re missing out because, really, who has the time? Well, you have plenty of time now as you wait and wait and wait. Now you can watch and wait.

8. Increase Your Karma

Do something nice for someone you just met at the con. You could save someone’s place in line. You might share some of your snacks. You could let someone use that charging cable or battery in your backpack. There are many nice things you can do and it all comes back to you. So look for opportunities to help a stranger at the con and turn that stranger into a new friend. If you have a chance to do a nice thing, do it.

9. Read Wayward Nerd!

I know it’s obvious because, let’s face it, you’re reading it right now, aren’t you? I hope this article actually contained some useful advice, but did you know that there are so many more helpful articles on the site? (You’ll definitely want to read the one about avoiding con crud because no one wants to return from a comic-con sick.) Poke around and you’ll find plenty more to read. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @WaywardNerd because we’re live-tweeting SDCC right now!

10. Call Your Mom

Let’s face it, she’s the reason that you’re even at the con. If you got lucky and got an amazing mom, she probably supported all your nerdiness growing up. So give mom a call and thank her for bringing you into this geektastic world so you could attend San Diego Comic-Con International.

Chris Gore is a comedian, a writer and an occasional TV host. He is a trekkie. A film devotee. He is in constant search of the nerd universe and will report back with news of alien life. He is batman. 

© 2015 Wayward Nerd. All rights reserved.

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